The Darkest Kiss

hidden extremely well, using leaves as roofs and tunnels they'd either dug or found as shelter.

How long had they been here? Whatever the answer, he already knew what they had planned.

'We'll kill them all,' he'd heard one of them say as they'd walked. Lucien had been in the spirit world, so they hadn't seen him.

'Make sure they suffer first,' another had cackled.

'When those demons are locked up, I think I'll wear one of their keeper's teeth as a necklace. Every time they take a breath, exhaling their evil onto the world, it seems like someone I know or love is struck with sickness or misfortune, and I'm tired of it. If they'd been disposed of years ago, my Marilyn wouldn't have died of cancer. She'd still be here. I know it.'

'World won't be right until they're gone. They might have fooled the people of Buda into thinking they're angels, but history has proven otherwise. You guys see the portrait of Death in ancient Athens?' Shudder. 'Not a single survivor.'

Block his words. Obviously they were searching for the box. For all he knew, they might already have found a trace of its location. He hated that they wanted it, but knew why they did. After they had killed Baden, the demon of Distrust had sprung from the lifeless body and even now wandered the earth, more crazed and destructive than ever before.

That was when the Hunters realized they could not kill the Lords and their spirits. And so, to rid the world of both, they had to capture and subdue the Lords, then secure the demons back inside the box. If they found it.

Time was more of an enemy than ever. Lucien flashed to the warriors, who were watching a movie inside the rented house, waiting for him.

'Finally,' Strider said, spotting him. 'Was getting worried.'

'Hunters,' he said, and they instantly sat up.

Paris jumped to his feet, whipping up his weapons in a blink. 'How many?'

'I counted thirteen above ground. There could be more in their tunnels, coming and going. Since I can't watch more than one location at a time, my count could be off.'

Amun withdrew a semiautomatic from the waist of his pants and checked the magazine.

'There is not going to be a bloodbath tonight,' Gideon said with a grin.

Rather than take a boat as originally planned, Lucien flashed them all to the island, one at a time. He would rather prance around Anya in a dress than wait. To everyone's amusement, Paris passed out during their journey and it took several minutes to revive him. Strider handled his first flash with ease, grinning the entire split second required to move from one location to another. Amun didn't show any reaction at all. As Reyes had once done, Gideon vomited but quickly pulled himself together.

All the while, Lucien could feel Anya's eyes on him. The soul-deep burn had returned, stripping him bare. Death even started purring again.

Knowing she was there caused Lucien's muscles to tighten with strain. Not because he thought she'd attack—he expected that, but didn't fear it—but because he could not forget how she felt in his arms. He could not forget the way she moaned when the hot tip of his tongue ran over her throat. The way her nipples hardened, begging for his mouth. The way her legs parted, welcoming him as close to heaven as a man like him could ever hope to get.

Right then, he wanted off the island. He wanted her naked and in his bed. He wanted his hands on her body, and her hands on his body. Wanted his mouth between her thighs, and her mouth on his cock. He just…wanted.

And he could not have.

Concentrate! Crouching in moonlight and dewy foliage, water rushing all around, he muttered, 'Do not interfere.'

'What?' Strider asked, confused as he crouched beside him.

'Never mind.' The moon was high and laced with golden ribbons, caressing the sand and greenery. Insects sang happily. He could have taken the Hunters down on his own. Simply flashed inside their tunnels and attacked, but he did not want to risk one getting away.

'Are you sure they're Hunters?' Paris asked, squatting in the leaves on Lucien's other side.

'Yes. I saw their marks.' Every Hunter sect branded themselves with a symbol of Infinity on their wrists. 'Infinity without evil' was their credo.

Lucien did not consider himself completely evil. At one time, yes, he had been. His demon had constantly compelled him to take lives, not just souls, and he had. Gladly. But no longer. The desire to kill had thankfully been tamed. Now, he fought only for peace and protection.

Regret struck him that he could not have more, and he squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. Were he merely a mortal, he would have married long ago. He and Mariah would have had a dozen children. He would have spent his days caring for his family and his nights loving his wife. And when he died he would have been welcomed into paradise.

But he had not been created to enjoy life. He had been created to guard the god king and to defend the heavens. And then, once he and the demon had joined, even that had been taken from him. You deserved it, you know you did.

'This could be a trap,' Strider said, drawing his attention.

'They did not know I was here, nor did they seem to be preparing for any type of battle.'

Paris gripped the hilt of a dagger. 'How should we do this?'

'We'll encircle their camp. On my signal, we'll rush the tunnels silently, locking them inside with no chance of escape. There are four entrances. I looked earlier. Paris, double with Strider and take the west. Gideon, the east. Amun, north. I'll take south.'

Each man nodded and silently obeyed.

'Oh, goodie. A battle.' Anya laughed softly, suddenly materializing at Lucien's side. She, too, crouched, every bit the warrior.

He was instantly enveloped by that strawberries-and-cream scent. His blood heated—sizzling, blistering. 'Quiet,' he growled, refusing to look at her. That might prove to be his undoing.

'Aren't you going to attack me?' she asked, and he would swear he heard a pout.

'I have not the time for you right now.' He meant the words as an insult, but they emerged dripping with disappointment rather than rancor. 'We can fight later.'

'You've been neglecting me, and I don't like it.'

'You should be grateful for my neglect.'

'Don't flatter yourself.' She didn't leave in a huff as he'd half expected. Instead, she shifted closer to him. 'Can I help you fight the Hunters? Please, please, please, can I?'

'No. Be silent.' If the warriors heard him from their positions, they gave no indication. He could just make them out in the bushes, only the tips of their heads visible as they waited for his signal.

'But I'm an expert fighter.'

'I know,' he replied drily. His chest still ached where she'd stabbed him. Should have been illegal for a woman who looked like her to be so sexily bloodthirsty. And he should not have found that bloodthirstiness so attractive. 'Did you tell these Hunters about the temple?'

'Ugh. Why would I help the Hunters?'

'So that they would kill me, and you would no longer have to worry about being killed by me.'

'I don't worry about that now,' she said matter-of-factly.

Gods save him. Had women always been this way? 'What are you doing here, Anya? I left you because I needed space. Time. Is that too much to ask?'

'Yes.' She shifted in the grass, angling even closer to him. 'I just…I can't get you out of my mind. I missed you.'

Hearing that was almost painful. A lie? 'Anya.'

'No, no. Don't say anything. You'll only make me mad and then bad things will happen. Oh, my gods,' she added with a quiet laugh. 'I sounded just like you. Look, let me help. I won't get in the way. Swear. Scouts honor. Witches honor. Or whatever kind of promise you want.'

A gentle, salt-kissed breeze swept past them, and a lock of her hair brushed his cheek. He experienced an